By Matthew Henry
COLOGNE, GERMANY: The Cologne-based Domotechnica whitegoods exhibition is reporting registrations around 15 per cent above expectation, despite the challenge posed by the IFA consumer electronics show, which will include whitegoods for the first time this year.
Domotechnica claims 700 companies from 37 countries will be exhibiting when it opens its doors on 18 February to 21 February, with 87 per cent of these comprised of international exhibitors from Italy, Turkey, China, Taiwan and the USA.
“The current level of registrations is around 15 per cent above Koelmesse’s original expectations,” said the show’s organizers in a release.
The future of Domotechnica has been called into question following the announcement by the world’s largest consumer electronics fair, Berlin-based IFA, that it will dedicate 30,000 square metres of exhibition space to whitegoods and home appliances.
Late last year, Miele co-owner Dr Markus Miele told Currnent.com.au he supported the inclusion of whitegoods at IFA because there were a number “big box producers who have not decided to go to Domotechnica”.
IFA was originally held every two years but became an annual exhibition due to the acceleration of product development in the consumer electronics industry in recent years.
However, Domotechnica appears to have responded to claims that it is being increasingly populated by low-end brands rather than the leading whitegoods manufacturers.
For the first time, the show will be segmented into three exhibition spaces: “Domo Selection” for the highest-quality brands for Germany and internationally, “Global Sources” for low-priced product from emerging markets, and “Domo Components” focusing on components and accessories.